Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Friday that India’s domestic defence production has achieved a historic milestone, reaching ₹1.5 lakh crore. This marks a massive leap from the ₹46,000 crore recorded in 2014. Speaking at a foundation stone-laying ceremony for major defence projects in Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai district, the Minister expressed confidence that this figure would further rise to ₹1.75 lakh crore within the next few months. He highlighted that defence exports have also surged from less than ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to a record ₹38,424 crore today, underscoring the success of the government’s push for self-reliance.
During the event, attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh, Rajnath Singh laid the foundation for four transformative projects. Key among them is the Core Integration and Flight Testing Centre for the Fifth Generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), developed by the ADA (under DRDO). This facility will lead to the production of an indigenous stealth fighter, a capability possessed by only a few nations globally. Additionally, a ₹480 crore project by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) was initiated to manufacture futuristic underwater systems, including autonomous vehicles and next-generation torpedoes, aimed at bolstering the Indian Navy and the maritime economy.
The Minister also inaugurated private sector projects, including Agneyastra Energetics Limited (a Bharat Forge subsidiary) with a ₹1,500 crore investment in advanced weaponry, and HFCL’s ₹1,294 crore ammunition and electric fuse plant. Furthermore, he noted the establishment of a ‘Drone City’ in Kurnool by a consortium of eight companies. Rajnath Singh emphasized that these projects would act as “growth poles” for Andhra Pradesh, creating millions of jobs, developing a robust local supply chain, and providing a high-tech platform for local youth to excel in engineering and technology.
